Adaptive repeater for improved communication system performance

ABSTRACT

A dynamically tuned repeater system for improved communication system performance is disclosed. The repeater circuit consists of power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers, filters, switches and antennas along with tuning circuits integrated and controlled to provide an optimized system for RF transmission improvement. Dynamic tuning provides the ability to maintain optimized system performance as required by communication link characteristics. Inputs from proximity sensors are used to further optimize system performance. The repeater topology is capable of transmission and reception enhancement at a multitude of frequency bands.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 61/496,847, filed Jun. 14, 2011.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to mobile communication devices; and moreparticularly to an adaptive transceiver and antenna system adapted tocouple with a wireless communication device for enhancing communicationlink performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As wireless technology advances toward more versatile mobile platforms,consumer demands within the wireless industry continue to driveconvergence in the end mobile device. For example, mobile wirelessdevices and related equipment are trending toward a single mobilewireless platform, or system concept, effectively enabling system usersto operate any single device over a wide range of communicationplatforms such as voice, data transmission, texting, multimedia videodownloads, and other processing functions. Requirements of suchmulti-functional devices across diverse platforms, especially wherethese devices may be coupled to multiple accessories, will placeadditional strain on maintaining antenna performance from the embeddedantennas in the mobile device.

Accordingly, there is a present demand for new techniques adapted tomaintain antenna system performance, and further adapting the antennasystem to function in view of changes in the operational environment ofa given wireless device. Current antenna technology is not robust enoughto provide the flexibility in optimization and re-tuning required as amobile wireless device is coupled to other accessories designed toenhance the input and output functions desired by users to make the userexperience more efficient. There further remains a need for improvingpower management and optimizing battery resources within communicationsdevices.

A common problem encountered in mobile wireless communication systems isthe de-tuning effects incurred on the antenna due to the multiple usecases for the device, such as for example: device held in the user'shand, device against the user's head, or placement of the device on asurface such as a table or dashboard of an automobile, etc. As theantenna de-tunes, the impedance presented by the antenna to a poweramplifier and receiver varies, which in turn reduces the power transferthrough the front end (power amplifier, switch assembly, filters, andantenna). The result is reduced communication range as well as reduceddata rate for the communication device. With a passive antenna and fixedimpedance matching circuit, the front end can only be optimized for asingle use case. The added requirement for the mobile wireless device tooperate when connected to or in close proximity to additionalaccessories presents additional challenges in maintaining optimizationof the antenna system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to solve these andother problems in the art by introducing an adaptive transceiver andantenna system for coupling to one or more embedded antennas within amobile wireless device and improving both transmit and receiveperformance of the mobile wireless device when the device is coupled to,or attached to, one or more accessories.

In keeping with these and other objectives, an improved front endcircuit design is provided, wherein an adaptive transceiver is adaptedto boost both transmitted and received signal levels for providingenhanced signal and efficiency in the communications link

In one embodiment of the present invention an adaptive transceiver isintegrated into a host device. The host device can be any type ofaccessory that can at least partially receive, or attach to, a wirelessdevice. In general, a host device may be adapted to expand functionalityto the wireless device, such as by providing a larger display orkeyboard, improved speakers, additional processors and or memory, etc.The host device can be designed with a docking portion, or receptacle,adapted to at least partially receive, or accept, one or more mobilewireless devices. A coupling antenna is positioned in close proximityfor coupling with an embedded antenna of the mobile wireless device, andthe coupling antenna is further connected to an adaptive repeatercircuit. The output of the repeater circuit is connected to one or morerepeating elements integrated into the host device which are used totransmit and receive signals. A band detection and control circuit isused to provide control signals to the power amplifiers and low noiseamplifiers within the adaptive repeater circuit. Additionally, the banddetection and control circuit may further comprise one or more activetuning components for canceling a reactance of the one or more antennasof the adaptive transceiver system.

In another embodiment, a switch assembly is integrated into thetransceiver for bypassing the adaptive repeater circuit. This feature isimplemented when an improvement in transmit or receive performance isnot required from the adaptive repeater and the repeater can be powereddown to reduce power consumption in the host device.

In another embodiment, an algorithm containing power level and powerdown modes is used to improve performance of the adaptive repeater andwireless device combination. The power level mode increases or decreasesone or more of power amplifier gain and low noise amplifier gaindepending on the communication link performance required. The power downmode minimizes power consumption of the transmit and receive sections ofthe repeater system to increase battery life. The power level and powerdown modes are also used to minimize SAR (specific absorption rate),effectively minimizing radiation exposure levels experienced by a user.

In another embodiment, inputs are collected from proximity sensorswithin the host device and fed into the detection and control circuit,with these inputs used to optimize transmit and receive performance ofthe adaptive transceiver. Inputs from proximity sensors or otherstimulus are used to sense environmental changes and adjust transmitpower to reduce SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) for the totalcommunication system. The total communication system is comprised of thewireless device and host device which contains the adaptive transceiversystem.

In yet another embodiment, two or more coupling antennas are positionedto couple to the wireless device inserted into, received by, orconnected to, the host device. The coupling antennas provide the abilityto couple specific portions of the frequency spectrum and reject otherportions. The multiple coupling antennas provide filtering of signalsprior to insertion of the signals in the adaptive repeater. In oneconfiguration, low frequency signals such as the 850 MHz GSM band andthe 900 MHz EGSM band are coupled through a first coupling antenna whilehigh frequency signals such as the 1800 MHz DCS band, the 1900 MHz PCSband, and the 2100 MHz UMTS band are coupled through a second couplingantenna.

In another configuration, the low frequency band can be separated intoreceive and transmit portions with separate coupling antennas dedicatedto each portion of the frequency band. For example, a first couplingantenna can be configured to have a dual resonance response where thetransmit portion of the 850 MHz GSM band, 824 to 849 MHz, and thetransmit portion of the 900 MHz EGSM band, 880 to 915 MHz, are covered.A second coupling antenna can be configured to have a dual resonanceresponse where the receive portion of the 850 MHz GSM band, 869 to 894MHz, and the receive portion of the 900 MHz EGSM band, 925 to 960 MHz,are covered. The concept can be applied to cover multiple transmit orreceive bands at the higher frequency bands by designing multi-resonantantennas. One benefit of this technique is to reduce filteringrequirements in the adaptive repeater.

In another embodiment, one or more coupling antennas are positioned tocouple to the wireless device inserted in, or connected to, the hostdevice. The coupling antennas are connected to the adaptive repeaterwhich is in turn connected to two or more antennas for transmission andreception of signals. The use of two or more antennas connected to therepeater provides an additional degree of optimization in terms ofantenna performance as a function of frequency and in improved filteringfrom the antenna portion of the system. For example, two antennas can beused to separate the low band frequencies in a cellular application, 850MHz GSM, 900 MHz EGSM, and 700 MHz LTE bands, from the high bandfrequencies, 1800 MHz DCS, 1900 PCS, 2100 MHz UMTS, and 2600 MHz LTE andWiMax bands. Alternately, four antennas can be used, wherein twoantennas are assigned to the low band cellular frequencies and twoantennas assigned to the high band frequencies. Additional antennas canbe added to continue to segregate the frequency spectrum required fromthe application into narrow band segments for additional filteringbenefits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and advantages of this invention will be moreapparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a repeater system used to boost transmit and receivesignal strength;

FIG. 2 illustrates a repeater system topology with filters, poweramplifier (PA), and low noise amplifier (LNA);

FIG. 3 illustrates a repeater system having incorporated switches toprovide the ability to bypass the repeater circuit for reducing powerconsumption;

FIG. 4 illustrates an adaptive repeater system with frequency banddetection and control circuitry capable of dynamic adjustment oftransmit power levels and receive amplification levels;

FIG. 5 illustrates an adaptive repeater system with frequency banddetection and control circuitry capable of dynamic adjustment oftransmit power levels and receive amplification levels, wherein separatetransmit and receive antennas are incorporated in the architecture;

FIG. 6 illustrates a host device having an adaptive transceiver forcoupling with a wireless communications device, a coupling element usedto couple electromagnetic energy to and from a wireless device forfurther amplification by the adaptive repeater;

FIG. 7 illustrates a repeater system comprising a single couplingelement connected to a diplexer, which in turn is connected to separatetransmit and receive sections, wherein pairs of repeating antennas areconnected to both transmit and receive circuits for transmission andreception over high and low frequencies;

FIG. 8 illustrates an adaptive transceiver with a band selection andcontrol circuit connected to proximity sensors to aid in optimization oftransmit and receive characteristics of the system;

FIG. 9 illustrates a common problem encountered when a single couplingantenna is used to couple the wireless device to be amplified to thetransmit and receive circuits of the transceiver;

FIG. 10 illustrates a solution to the problem exhibited in FIG. 9,wherein a directional coupler, Wilkinson power divider, or hybridthereof is used to connect the common coupling antenna to both transmitand receiver circuits, providing the necessary isolation between thecircuits;

FIG. 11 illustrates a circuit topology incorporating a diplexer and pairof duplexers to split the transmit and receive bands into low frequencyand high frequency portions to effectively couple transmit/receivesignals to four antennas for re-transmission/reception while providingisolation between the circuits;

FIG. 12 illustrates a circuit topology incorporating two couplingantennas and a pair of duplexers to separate low and high band signalsfor efficient transmission and reception from the repeater circuit,wherein four repeating elements are used at the output of the adaptiverepeater circuit to transmit at low band and high band, and receive atlow band and high band, respectively;

FIG. 13 illustrates a circuit topology incorporating a single couplingantenna and single diplexer and pair of duplexers to separate low andhigh band signals for efficient transmission and reception from therepeater circuit, wherein two antennas are used at the output of theadaptive repeater circuit to transmit at low band and high band, andreceive at low band and high band, respectively, and further wherein apair of diplexers are incorporated at a second end of the repeatercircuit;

FIG. 14 illustrates a circuit topology incorporating a first couplingantenna for low band frequencies, a second coupling antenna for highband frequencies, two duplexers, two diplexers, and two repeatingelements, wherein transmission at both low and high band frequencies areperformed by one of the repeating elements, and reception at low andhigh band frequencies are performed by the second repeating element; and

FIG. 15 illustrates one embodiment of the invention, wherein a hostdevice includes a laptop display and keyboard adapted to partiallyreceive a wireless communications device such as a mobile phone, thehost includes an adaptive transceiver system including a couplingelement, a repeating element, and an adaptive repeater circuit disposedtherebetween, the wireless communications device includes an embeddedantenna, wherein the coupling antenna of the host device is disposed inproximity to the embedded antenna of the received wirelesscommunications device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and notlimitation, details and descriptions are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may bepracticed in other embodiments that depart from these details anddescriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Certain embodiments will be described below with reference tothe drawings wherein illustrative features are denoted by referencenumerals.

In a general embodiment of the invention an adaptive transceiver andantenna system, otherwise referred to herein as an adaptive repeatersystem, is provided within a host device for enhancing communicationsbetween a wireless communications device and one or more network baseterminals, particularly where the wireless communications device iscoupled to the host device or accessory. Examples of a host device mayinclude: a laptop screen and keyboard, video game console, media dockingstation, or other device adapted to couple with a wirelesscommunications device for providing supplemental features.

The adaptive transceiver and antenna system generally comprises acoupling element for coupling with one or more embedded antennas withinthe wireless communications device, a repeater circuit comprising atransmit section and a receive section, and a repeating element forcommunicating with a network base terminal. The system is attached to,or contained within, a host device. The coupling element is positionedin proximity to a dock or port for receiving a wireless communicationsdevice for effectuating an electromagnetic coupling therewith.

In addition to enhancing signal characteristics, the adaptivetransceiver and antenna system is further adapted to optimize powerresources during operation, such as batter power. In certainembodiments, the system is adapted to bypass adaptive circuitry. One ormore switches and a bypass transmission line can be used to bypass theadaptive circuitry.

Furthermore, the adaptive transceiver and antenna system is furtheradapted to enhance performance by reducing signal interferences. Incertain embodiments, the system is adapted to split a communicationssignal into two or more isolated signal components including: highfrequency (HF) transmit, HF receive, low frequency (LF) transmit, and LFreceive signals. Each of these signal components is the transmittedacross a separate transmission section within a repeater circuit, thetransmission sections may include transmit, receive, HF, and LFsections. In this regard, each separate transmission section can befurther connected to one or more antenna elements.

Still further, the adaptive transceiver and antenna system can befurther adapted to enhance a communications signal by incorporating oneor more components for preventing unwanted feedback. In this regard, adirectional coupler, a Wilkinson power divider, or a hybrid componentcan be incorporated into the system at a coupling antenna element.

In certain embodiments, a band detection and control circuit isprovided. The band detection and control circuit is adapted to activelymodulate power between one or more power amplifiers and low noiseamplifiers contained within the repeater circuit. The band detection andcontrol circuit can further receive signals from one or more proximitysensors, such that the control circuit is adapted to adjust the overallcommunications system (host and wireless communications device) forspecific absorption rate (SAR) per manufacturer specifications.Additionally, the control circuit may include a memory portionprogrammed to store one or more algorithms for adjusting repeatercircuit parameters, such as power gains and the like. The controlcircuit provides a means for dynamically adjusting the repeater circuitcomponents and providing enhanced communications performance.

Now turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a general repeatersystem comprising a coupling antenna element 10, a repeating antennaelement 11, and a repeater circuit disposed therebetween. The repeatercircuit further comprises a transmission section 12 and a receivesection 14 disposed between a pair of duplexers 13, 15. The couplingantenna is adapted to couple with at least one embedded antenna of awireless communications device (not shown) and receive/transmit signalsbetween the wireless communications device and the host device. Therepeating element is adapted to receive/transmit signals between anetwork base transceiver and the host device. The repeater circuit isadapted to enhance and deliver signals between the coupling element andthe repeating element. In this regard, the overall communications systemis improved for enhanced operation and signal efficiency within awireless communications network.

FIG. 2 further illustrates a general repeater system comprising acoupling antenna element 21, a repeating antenna element 22, and arepeater circuit. The repeater circuit further comprises a poweramplifier (PA) 25, a low noise amplifier (LNA) 26, and one or morefilters 24 a-c disposed between a first duplexer 23 a positioned at afirst end of the repeater circuit and a second duplexer 23 b positionedat a second end of the repeater circuit. The duplexers are adapted toseparate transmit and receive signals for transmission across respectivetransmission sections.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the invention wherein the repeatersystem is adapted to electronically isolate the repeater circuit forreducing power consumption. The repeater system comprises a first switch33 a being disposed between a coupling antenna element 31 and a repeatercircuit at a first end thereof. A second switch 33 b is disposed betweena repeating antenna element 32 and the repeater circuit at a second endthereof. A transmission line connects the first and second switches. Theswitcheably connected repeater circuit further comprises a transmitsection and a receive section disposed between a first duplexer 34 a anda second duplexer 34 b. The first duplexer 34 a is further connected tothe coupling element 31 at the first switch 33 a. The second duplexer 34b is further connected to the repeating element 32 at the second switch33 b. The transmit section further comprises a PA 36 and the receivesection of the repeater circuit further comprises a LNA 37. One or bothof the transmit and receive sections may further comprise one or morefilters, respectively. In this regard, the repeater system is furtheradapted to bypass the adaptive repeater circuit for reducing powerconsumption where signal enhancement is not required or where powerresources are low (low power mode).

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an adaptive repeater system according tovarious embodiments of the invention. The adaptive repeater systemcomprises a coupling antenna element 41, a repeating antenna element 42,a repeater circuit, and a band detection and control module (BDCmodule). The repeater circuit further comprises: a transmit sectioncomprising at least one power amplifier 44 a-b, a receive sectioncomprising at least one low noise amplifier 45, and one or more filters43 a-d. Each of the transmit and receive sections is disposed between afirst duplexer 46 a at a first end and a second duplexer 46 b at asecond end. The first duplexer is further connected to the couplingelement, and the second duplexer is further coupled to the repeatingelement. The BDC module is further connected to one or more poweramplifiers and low noise amplifiers of the repeater circuit. In thisregard, the BDC module is adapted to dynamically adjust power gain atthe one or more power amplifiers and low noise amplifiers connectedtherewith. The BDC module can further comprise a memory portionprogrammed with one or more algorithms for operating at various modes.Additionally, the BDC module can dynamically adjust communicationcharacteristics across one or more networks such as DCS, PCS, GSM, andCDMA networks.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of an adaptive repeater system according tocertain other embodiments of the invention. The adaptive repeater systemcomprises a coupling antenna element 51, a first repeating antennaelement 52, a second repeating element 53, a repeater circuit, and aband detection and control module (BDC module). The repeater circuitfurther comprises: a transmit section comprising at least one poweramplifier 55-56, a receive section comprising at least one low noiseamplifier 57, and one or more filters 54 a-d. Each of the transmit andreceive sections is disposed between a duplexer 58 at a first end of therepeater circuit and one of the first and second repeating elementsconnected at a second end. The first duplexer is further connected tothe coupling element. The BDC module is further connected to one or morepower amplifiers and low noise amplifiers of the repeater circuit. Inthis regard, the adaptive repeater system is adapted to communicate witha network base transceiver using separate transmit and receive antennasfor maintaining isolation in the transmit and receive sections forenhanced communications.

FIG. 6 is a schematic of a general embodiment of the invention wherein ahost device 60 comprises an adaptive repeater system. The adaptiverepeater system comprises a first coupling element 61 connected to anadaptive repeater circuit 64 such as those disclosed in FIGS. 1-5, and arepeating element 62. The coupling element 61 is positioned adjacent toa coupled wireless communications device 63 such that the couplingelement is adapted to couple with one or more embedded antennas of thewireless communications device. In this regard, the host device andelectronic components thereof will tend to detune the embedded antennasof the wireless communications device, whereas the repeater systemfunctions to enhance communications signals across the entirecommunications platform (host and coupled wireless communicationsdevice).

FIG. 7 illustrates an adaptive repeater system according to variousembodiments of the invention wherein the repeater circuit is adapted toisolate transmit and receive signals and further separate low frequency(LF) and high frequency (HF) signal components. The repeater systemincludes a coupling antenna element 70 connected to a duplexer 77 forisolating transmit and receive components of the communications signal.The duplexer 77 is further connected to a receive diplexer 73 a forfurther separating receive signals into HF and LF components and atransmit diplexer 73 b for further separating transmit signals into HFand LF components. The receive diplexer 73 a is further connected to aHF receive section comprising a LNA 75 a, and a LF receive sectioncomprising a LNA 75 b. Each of the receive sections may further compriseone or more filters 74 a-d for filtering noise from the transmissionlines. The HF receive section is further connected to a HF repeatingelement 71 a and the LF receive section is further connected to a LFrepeating element 71 b. The transmit diplexer 73 b is further connectedto a HF transmit section comprising a PA 76 a, and a LF transmit sectioncomprising a PA 76 b. Each of the transmit sections may further compriseone or more filters 74 e-h for filtering noise from the transmissionlines. The HF transmit section is further connected to a HF repeatingelement 72 a and the LF transmit section is further connected to a LFrepeating element 72 b. In this regard, the adaptive repeater system isadapted to isolate HF and LF transmit signals as well as HF and LFreceive signals for maintaining isolation within the repeater circuitand providing improved communications performance.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of certain embodiments of theinvention wherein one or more proximity sensors may be incorporated intothe system for sensing various device modes, such as device to head,device on dashboard, device in hand, and others. A host device 80comprises an adaptive repeater system for enhancing communications linkperformance with a coupled wireless communications device 83. Theadaptive repeater system comprises a coupling element 81 adapted tocouple with one or more embedded antennas of the wireless communicationsdevice 83, the coupling element being connected to an adaptive repeatercircuit 84. The adaptive repeater circuit 84 is further connected to arepeating element 82 and a band detection and control circuit (BDCcircuit) 85. One or more proximity sensors 86 a-b may be connected tothe BDC circuit for determining one or more device modes and adjustingfor SAR and HAC requirements. The BDC circuit can be provided in moduleform, wherein a BDC module is adapted to detect the band of operation,dynamically adjust the repeater circuit for signal enhancement, anddetermine a device mode for adjusting SAR and HAC.

FIG. 9 illustrates a problem recognized with providing a couplingantenna 92 to separate transmit and receive sections. The couplingantenna 92 is connected to a receive section comprising a LNA 94 and areceive antenna 91. The coupling antenna 92 is further connected to atransmit section comprising a PA 95 and a transmit antenna 93. Thetransmit and receive sections tend to couple with the coupling element97, 98 and themselves 96, causing unwanted feedback. The lack ofisolation between transmit and receive circuits tends to reduce antennaefficiency and performance, thus a solution should be addressed foroptimizing performance of the system.

FIG. 10 illustrates one solution to the problem described in FIG. 9(above). The repeater system includes a coupling antenna 102 connectedto one of a directional coupler, Wilkinson power divider, or a hybridisolation component, which is further connected to a transmit sectionand a receive section. The transmit section comprises an attenuator 105,power amplifier 106, and transmit antenna 103. The receive sectioncomprises a low noise amplifier 104 and a receive antenna. Feedback 109between the receive antenna and coupling antenna, feedback 110 betweenthe transmit antenna and coupling antenna, and feedback 108 between thereceive and transmit antennas is substantially reduced with theisolation of the transmit and receive sections.

FIG. 11 illustrates another example of an adaptive repeater systemaccording to certain embodiments of the invention wherein the coupledsignal is separated into low HF and LF signal components. The systemcomprises a coupling antenna 111 connected to a diplexer 112 forsplitting HF and LF frequency components. The diplexer is furtherconnected to a HF section 113 and a LF section 114. The HF sectioncomprises a duplexer 115 a connected to a HF transmit section and a HFreceive section. The HF transmit section comprises a power amplifier 117a and a HF transmit repeating element 119 a. The HF receive sectioncomprises a low noise amplifier 116 a and a HF receive repeating element118 a. The LF section comprises a duplexer 115 b connected to a LFtransmit section and a LF receive section. The LF transmit sectioncomprises a power amplifier 117 b and a LF transmit repeating element119 b. The LF receive section comprises a low noise amplifier 116 b anda LF receive repeating element 118 b. The HF and LF transmit and receivesections are isolated for providing reduced interference and improvedperformance of the overall communications system.

FIG. 12 illustrates another example of an adaptive repeater systemaccording to certain embodiments of the invention wherein the coupledsignal is separated into low HF and LF signal components. The systemcomprises a first coupling antenna 121 a tuned for HFreception/transmission and a second coupling antenna 121 b tuned for LFreception/transmission. The first coupling antenna 121 a is connected toa HF section 123 comprising a first duplexer 125 a connected to a HFtransmit section and a HF receive section. The HF transmit sectioncomprises a power amplifier 127 a and a HF transmit element 129 a. TheHF receive section comprises a low noise amplifier 126 a connected to aHF receive element 128 a. The second coupling antenna 121 b is connectedto a LF section 124 comprising a first duplexer 125 b connected to a LFtransmit section and a LF receive section. The LF transmit sectioncomprises a power amplifier 127 b and a LF transmit element 129 b. TheLF receive section comprises a low noise amplifier 126 b connected to aLF receive element 128 b. In this regard, the HF and LF transmit andreceive sections are isolated for improved antenna performance.

FIG. 13 illustrates another adaptive repeater system according tocertain embodiments of the invention wherein a dual resonance couplingelement is connected to a repeater circuit adapted for isolation of HFand LF transmit and receive sections, the repeater circuit being furtherconnected to a dual resonance transmit antenna and a dual resonancereceive antenna. Each of the dual resonance antennas are configured tooperate at a LF band and a HF band. The system comprises a dualresonance coupling antenna 131 connected to a diplexer 132 for isolatingHF and LF signal components. The diplexer 132 is further connected to afirst HF duplexer 135 a for isolation of HF transmit and HF receivesignal components. The first HF duplexer 135 a is further connected to aHF receive section and a HF transmit section. The HF receive sectioncomprises a LNA 136 a. The HF transmit section comprises a PA 137 a. Thediplexer 132 is further connected to a second LF duplexer 135 b. The LFduplexer is connected to a LF transmit section and a LF receive section.The LF transmit section comprises a PA 137 b. The LF receive sectioncomprises a LNA 136 b. The HF and LF transmit sections are combined attransmit diplexer 133 b, which is further connected to dual resonancetransmit antenna 139 b. he HF and LF receive sections are combined atreceive diplexer 133 a, which is further connected to dual resonancereceive antenna 138 a. In this regard, isolation is maintained forimproved performance while reduced space is realized with only threeantennas, each of the antennas being adapted for dual resonanceoperation.

FIG. 14 illustrates yet another adaptive repeater system according tocertain embodiments of the invention wherein a first coupling elementand second coupling element are connected to a repeater circuit adaptedfor isolation of HF and LF transmit and receive sections, the repeatercircuit being further connected to a dual resonance transmit antenna anda dual resonance receive antenna. The first coupling element 141 a istuned to operate at a HF band, and is connected to HF duplexer 145 a forisolation of transmit and receive signal components. HF duplexer 145 ais further connected to a HF transmit section and a HF receive section.The HF transmit section comprises a PA 147 a. The HF receive sectioncomprises a LNA 146 a. The second coupling element 141 b is tuned tooperate at a LF band, and is connected to a LF duplexer 145 b. LFduplexer 145 b is further connected to a LF transmit section and a LFreceive section. The LF transmit section comprises a PA 147 b. The LFreceive section comprises a LNA 146 b. The HF and LF transmit sectionsare combined at a transmit diplexer 142 b, which is connected to a dualresonance transmit antenna 149 b. The HF and LF receive sections arecombined at a receive diplexer 142 a, which is further connected to adual resonance receive antenna 148 a.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a laptop host device having anexpanded screen portion 150 b and keyboard portion 150 a. The hostdevice comprises an adaptive repeater system according to an embodimentof the invention, wherein a coupling element 152 is connected to arepeater circuit 153, the repeater circuit being further connected to arepeating element 151. The host device comprises a wirelesscommunications device dock 154 for at least partially receiving awireless communications device 155. The wireless communications device155 comprises at least one embedded antenna 156 for which the couplingelement 152 of the repeater system is positioned near. The host devicecomprising a repeater system is adapted to enhance the communicationsperformance of the overall system (host and device).

For purposes of this invention, the terms coupling element, firstcoupling element, second coupling element, HF coupling element, LFcoupling element, and dual resonance coupling element each refer to anantenna element designed to couple with a wireless communications devicewhen placed in proximity with, or at least partially attached to, a hostdevice.

The terms antenna repeating element, repeating antenna, repeatingelement, HF transmit antenna, LF transmit antenna, HF receive antenna,LF receive antenna each refer to an antenna element of the repeatersystem for communicating with a wireless network.

The invention is not intended to be limited with respect to anyparticular antenna element, and any antenna element known in the art canbe incorporated as a coupling or repeating element with minor testing,tuning, and adjustment using methods known to those having skill in theart. However, certain antennas have been utilized by the inventors andhave shown optimum performance characteristics, such as single resonanceand dual resonance isolated magnetic dipole elements as described in theprior art, for example those antennas described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/043,090, the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

The above examples are set forth for illustrative purposes and are notintended to limit the spirit and scope of the invention. One havingskill in the art will recognize that certain deviations from theaforementioned examples can be created which substantially perform thesame functions and obtain similar results.

1. An adaptive transceiver and antenna system, comprising: at least onecoupling element disposed within a host device and adapted forpositioning adjacent to one or more embedded antennas of a wirelesscommunications device; a repeater circuit comprising at least onetransmit section and at least one receive section, each of said at leastone transmit sections comprising a power amplifier, each of said atleast one receive sections comprising a low noise amplifier, saidrepeater circuit being connected to said at least one coupling elementat a first end, said first end comprising one or more of: a duplexer anda diplexer; at least one repeating element, said at least one repeatingelement being connected to said repeater circuit at a second end, saidsecond end comprising one or more of: a duplexer and a diplexer; and aband detection and control module adapted to actively modulate one ormore of: power amplifier gain and low noise amplifier gain for improvingcommunication link performance.
 2. The adaptive transceiver and antennasystem of claim 1, further comprising first switch at said first end, asecond switch at said second end, and a transmission path therebetweensuch that the system is adapted to bypass said repeater circuit.
 3. Theadaptive transceiver and antenna system of claim 1, said band detectionand control module further comprising an adaptive algorithm fordynamically adjusting antenna performance.
 4. The adaptive transceiverand antenna system of claim 1, comprising a first repeating element anda second repeating element, each of said first and second repeatingelements being connected to said repeater circuit at said second end. 5.The adaptive transceiver and antenna system of claim 4, said firstrepeating element being connected to said transmit section and saidsecond repeating element being connected to said receive section.
 6. Theadaptive transceiver and antenna system of claim 1, said repeatercircuit comprising a low frequency receive section and a high frequencyreceive section, said receive sections each being connected to a receivediplexer at a first end.
 7. The adaptive transceiver and antenna systemof claim 6, said at least one repeating element comprising a lowfrequency receive antenna connected to said low frequency receivesection, and a high frequency receive antenna connected to said highfrequency receive section.
 8. The adaptive transceiver and antennasystem of claim 6, further comprising a dual resonance receive antenna,said dual resonance receive antenna capable of operation at low and highfrequencies.
 9. The adaptive transceiver and antenna system of claim 6,said at least one repeating element further comprising a low frequencytransmit section and a high frequency transmit section, said transmitsections each being connected to a transmit diplexer at a first end. 10.The adaptive transceiver and antenna system of claim 9, said at leastone repeating element further comprising a low frequency transmitantenna connected to said low frequency transmit section, and a highfrequency transmit antenna connected to said high frequency receivesection.
 11. The adaptive transceiver and antenna system of claim 9,said at least one repeating element further comprising a dual resonancetransmit antenna, said dual resonance transmit antenna capable ofoperation at low and high frequencies.
 12. The adaptive transceiver andantenna system of claim 1, further comprising one or more proximitysensors, said proximity sensors connected to said band detection andcontrol module and adapted to detect a use case for configuring antennaperformance.
 13. The adaptive transceiver and antenna system of claim12, said proximity sensors adapted to adjust one or more of: specificabsorption rate and hearing aid compatibility.
 14. The adaptivetransceiver and antenna system of claim 1, said coupling element furtherconnected to one or more of: a directional coupler, Wilkinson powerdivider, or hybrid thereof for providing isolation between said receiveand transmit sections.
 15. The adaptive transceiver and antenna systemof claim 1, said repeater circuit comprising a low frequency section anda high frequency section.
 16. The adaptive transceiver and antennasystem of claim 15, each of said low and high frequency sections beingconnected to a frequency diplexer at a first end.
 17. The adaptivetransceiver and antenna system of claim 16, said low frequency sectionfurther comprising a low frequency transmit section and a low frequencyreceive section, each of said low frequency transmit and receivesections being connected to a duplexer for separating low frequencytransmit and receive signals.
 18. The adaptive transceiver and antennasystem of claim 16, said high frequency section further comprising ahigh frequency transmit section and a high frequency receive section,each of said high frequency transmit and receive sections beingconnected to a duplexer for separating high frequency transmit andreceive signals.
 19. The adaptive transceiver and antenna system ofclaim 15, said low frequency section being connected to a first couplingelement, said first coupling element being tuned to receive lowfrequency signals emitted from said wireless device.
 20. The adaptivetransceiver and antenna system of claim 15, said high frequency sectionbeing connected to a second coupling element, said second couplingelement being tuned to receive high frequency signals emitted from saidwireless device.
 21. The adaptive transceiver and antenna system ofclaim 1, said at least one repeating element comprising a first dualresonance antenna adapted for transmit operation at low and highfrequency bands.
 22. The adaptive transceiver and antenna system ofclaim 21, said at least one repeating element further comprising asecond dual resonance antenna adapted for receive operation at low andhigh frequency bands.